An English Painting Showing a Red Earthenware Bowl Probably Being Used for Water

I have always found this to be an interesting work of art, which was painted by British Artist Arthur Wardle (1864-1949), depicting a Jack Russell Terrier and a Bloodhound in a barn. Although, what I find of interest is the late nineteenth or twentieth century English red earthenware bowl with the slip decorated interior that the Bloodhound is resting a leg on, which may been used here as a water bowl. 

A similar type of production was also manufactured in places like Nova Scotia in Canada about the same period. And in some cases, I find it difficult to determine the difference with these type of wares when they are not found in Canada or northern New England.

This painting last sold for $32,500 plus the auction premiums in 2019 at Hill Auction Gallery in Sunrise, Florida.

An English Painting Showing a Red Earthenware Bowl Probably Being Used for Water

Painting Depicting a Jack Russell Terrier and a Bloodhound in a Barn with an English Bowl

 Painted by British Artist Arthur Wardle (1864-1949)

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Photo Courtesy: Hill Auction Gallery

Another View of the  Painting

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Photo Courtesy: Hill Auction Gallery

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New Published Research Story: The Wares Made By John Betts Gregory

Here is the print version of my latest research article that was just published by Antiques & Auction News about the Norwalk, Connecticut, Long Island and Clinton, New York potter, John Betts Gregory (1782-1842), titled, "The Wares Made By John Betts Gregory In Clinton, New York: An Examination Of Empire State Regional Redware." I actually visited the site of the pottery with my niece and nephew two summers ago, which is a large part of the story.

New Published Research Story: The Wares Made By John Betts Gregory

New Published Research Story: The Wares Made By John Betts Gregory

Published in the Most Recent Issue of Antiques & Auction News

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Please Stay Tuned...Much More Come...

Bristol County, Mass. Red Earthenware Rundlet Sells at Crocker Farm that is Possibly Related to an Object Owned by the MET

I thought this was one of the more exciting lots in Crocker Farm's most recent sale in Sparks, Maryland, which is identified as a late eighteenth or early nineteenth century red earthenware rundlet attributed to Bristol County, Massachusetts. Although the aspect about this object that really made it quite special is the fact that each end is decorated with a slip decorated bird, a type of decoration that is extremely rare from Bristol County, and basically anywhere in New England. Even more so, though is the fact that the only other instance that I have seen slip decorated birds applied on red earthenware from Bristol County is a pair of very important marriage jars displayed in the Americana Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

According to an article that I posted to this website on September 3, 2018, "I was first introduced to this remarkable pair of red earthenware marriage jars, made for George and Debby Purinton in Somerset, Massachusetts by Falmouth, Massachusetts antiques dealers, Hilary and Paulette Nolan, as well as Sheffield, Massachusetts antiques dealer, Sam Herrup. On a few occasions, I have written about these objects on this website, but I also recently cited the jars in a feature story I wrote about the eighteenth and nineteenth century pottery industry in southeastern Massachusetts for the June 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest.

However, I only knew about the existence of these jars based on an advertisement placed by antiques dealers, John Bihler and Henry Coger in the January 1974 edition of the Magazine Antiques. Although, I knew the jars have been in private ownership since the 1970s, but I was not aware they had been recently gifted to a prominent museum in New York City.

I recently learned that they had been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art thanks to Port Jefferson, New York collector, Anthony Butera who frequently visits the museum. Apparently, the jars have been in Manhattan for a few years now, but they were just recently added to an exhibit for public viewing in Gallery 704, located in the museum's Americana Wing.

According to the MET, "In the 1970s, Robert A. Ellison Jr. began collecting the works of the most celebrated European artist-potters favoring large-scale works with stunning glazes. The Museum recently acquired 76 works from the Ellison Collection that represent some of the best examples of Art Pottery produced in Europe between 1880 and 1930.

Bob Ellison also made a spectacular promised gift of more than 300 American ceramics to the Museum in 2009 (which include these marriage jars that finally made their way to the museum in 2015)."

Aside from the history, these jars demonstrate a miraculous amount of skill, especially the style of slip-decoration, utilizing plenty of script and prominent birds, which is hardly found with red earthenware production in New England before or after the American Revolution. But the handles are also fascinating since this form of jar is typically found without handles today.

Here is also a link to a New York Times article from 2009, which further analyzes Robert A. Ellison Jr.'s Collection; whereas, Antiques and the Arts Weekly has also published some stories about Ellison in recent years."

The rundlet sold for $2,100 plus the auction premiums.

Bristol County, Mass. Red Earthenware Rundlet with Slip Decorated Birds

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Rundlet with Slip Decorated Birds

Attributed to Bristol County, Mass.

Stands 6" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

View of One of the Slip Decorated Birds

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

View of the Other Slip Decorated Bird

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

Bristol County, Mass. Red Earthenware Marriage Jars with Slip Decorated Birds

Early 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Marriage Jars from Southeastern Mass.

Made for George and Debby Purinton

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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Information Exhibited with the Marriage Jars

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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Another View of the Jars

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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Another View of the Jars

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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Another View of the Jars

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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Another View of the Jars

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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Another View of the Jars

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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

New Published Research Story: The Wares Made By John Betts Gregory

Today's post announces my latest research article that was just published by Antiques & Auction News about the Norwalk, Connecticut, Long Island and Clinton, New York potter, John Betts Gregory (1782-1842), titled, "The Wares Made By John Betts Gregory In Clinton, New York: An Examination Of Empire State Regional Redware." I actually visited the site of the pottery with my niece and nephew two summers ago, which is a large part of the story.

Here is a link to the online version - I will post the print version soon.

New Published Research Story: The Wares Made By John Betts Gregory

New Published Research Story: The Wares Made By John Betts Gregory

Published in the Most Recent Issue of Antiques & Auction News

See Article for More Information

Please Stay Tuned...Much More Come...

Rare 18th C. English Slipware Bowl Sells at Skinner in Marlborough, Mass.

Even though in some ways this is basically a fragment, I thought this was a really interesting piece of eighteenth century English slip decorated red earthenware that sold in Skinner's most recent Americana sale in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Only speaking for myself, I have never seen anything exactly like it before - the bowl is inscribed in slip, "Don't Spill Your Milk."

Interestingly, the main reason I thought this bowl was so intriguing is because it reminded me of some wares manufactured in Charlestown, Massachusetts during the circa 1715-1775 period, which were typically inspired from English production.

Because of the condition, the bowl sold for $594.

Rare 18th C. English Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl

18th Century English Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl

Inscribed in Slip "Don't Spill Your Milk"

Measures 6 1/4" in Diameter

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Photo Courtesy: Skinner

Another View of the Bowl

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Photo Courtesy: Skinner

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Now Available - My New Book: The 1791-1820 William Pecker Pottery

My new book South Amesbury's Red Earthenware & Stoneware: The 1791-1820 William Pecker Pottery is now available to purchase! This 200-page book completes my north of Boston four volume book series with Historic Beverly in Massachusetts, although I'm working through the process of eventually writing other pottery books from elsewhere in Massachusetts.

Here is a link to purchase the book, which is currently being offered temporarily at a discounted rate for pre-orders over the next few days.

And here is also a link to purchase the entire series.

About the Book: Red earthenware production in South Amesbury (Merrimacport), Massachusetts, dates to the eighteenth century, supplying households in northeastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and probably other spots in New England, with everyday utilitarian wares. This multi-generational family business lasted for more than 100 years, making it one of the longest standing potteries in New England. The most famous of those employed in South Amesbury was William Pecker, who operated a pottery during the circa 1791-1820 period. Although, it is not widely known that Pecker was one of New England's earliest potters to produce red earthenware and stoneware, perhaps only the second business to accomplish this feat in New England behind the Parker Pottery in Charlestown, Massachusetts in the 1740s. This book is the first of its kind to explore South Amesbury's pottery production, the aesthetic appeal of these wars, archaeology and closely examine the stoneware manufactured by William Pecker.

North of Boston Four Volume Book Series

North of Boston Four Volume Book Series

The Series Includes My New Book The 1791-1820 William Pecker Pottery

See Article For Information on How to Purchase

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An Excellent Example of Beverly, Mass. Pottery Just Discovered in Marblehead, Mass.

This was such a shocking discovery yesterday! I couldn't believe my eyes when I came across this ancient style hand painted red earthenware ewer decorated with biblical figures made at the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Massachusetts, circa 1875. There are only a small group of pieces like this known to exist today, and even fewer decorated with any type of figure. In fact, this is the only piece that I have seen with any type of biblical decoration, all the other figures are Roman inspired. A very similar piece can also be found displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan.

Interestingly, this piece was just pulled out of the same estate on the Neck in Marblehead, Massachusetts, as was an important nineteenth century photograph of the Beverly Pottery that I acquired a few years ago, which had been missing for about 50 years. That photopraph has since been published by Historic Beverly in a book I wrote, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence, although it was also published in Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book Early New England Potters and Their Wares in 1950. Most of the remainder of this estate will be coming to a major Massachusetts auction house in the near future.

An Excellent Example of Beverly, Mass. Pottery Just Discovered in Marblehead, Mass.

19th Century Painted Red Earthenware Ewer Decorated with Biblical Figures

Made at the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Mass.

Circa 1875

Stands 7 1/4" Tall

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Another View of the Ewer

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View of the Handle

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Another View of the Ewer

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View of the Glazed Interior

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Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

Upcoming Book Talk About the Moses Paige Pottery at the Peabody, Mass. Historical Society

For those interested in hearing me speak about the circa 1876-1941 Moses Paige Pottery in Peabody, Massachusetts, along with the book I wrote about this business The Moses Paige Pottery: The Last of the Peabody Potteries - I will be speaking on this subject at a special event held at the Peabody Historical Society on Wednesday June 23, 2021 at 1:00 pm. Although, aside from my talk, the museum will also showcase its collection of Paige Pottery artifacts and red earthenware, as well as some of the pieces that I have acquired through the years. 

If interested in attending, I suggest contacting the museum for availability. In my opinion, this is an important New England business that deserves much more attention, especially considering that wares from this company were very likely shipped outside of New England in the late nineteenth and twentieth century and can be mistaken for production for other areas today. In fact, it seems that those markets may even include New York City.

In the meantime, here is a link to a feature Q&A that I did about this business in anticipation of my book with Madelia Hickman Ring for the November 13, 2018 issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly.

Upcoming Book Talk About the Moses Paige Pottery at the Peabody, Mass. Historical Society

Upcoming Presentation About the Moses Paige Pottery at the Peabody, Mass. Historical Society

The Large Paige Pottery Pitcher was Found Years Ago Inside a Home in Gloucester, Mass.

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Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...